Improvement in sealing preserve-cans



s. LUTZ.

Fruit Can.

No. 13,707. Patented Oct. 23, 1855.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICEO STIMMEL LUTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT I N SEALING- PRESERVE-CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13,707, dated October 23, 1855.

Oysters, Quinine, &c., irom the Atmosphere;

and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, 'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the middle of the conraining-vessel and Fig. 3, a like section through the outer covering or lid of the same, like letters indicating the same parts when 011 the different figures.

The nature of my invention consists in pro viding the containing-vessel, or can proper, with an external covering or lid of equal length with the can, and adapted to slide closely over the outside down to the bottom, so as to produce double sides to the same, and also in .providing a cement-chamber around the outside at the bottom of the can, so that as the outer covering is pressed down over the can its lower edge, when near .the bottom, entering within the cement-chamber, which containing melted wax or other soft cement, the vessel becomes hermetically sealed.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents the can as sealed. A is the top of the cover; 15, the handle, 0, the body of the cover; E, the interior or containing vessel; I), the ocment-chamber, and F the bottom of the can.

I usually make the whole apparatus of tinplate and of a cylindrical form, as shown in Fig. 1. It consists of two partsthe contain ing-vessel with the cement-chamber D permanently attached thereto, and the outer covering, O, with the handle 13 permanently attached. I make the length of the two parts equal, and the outer part as much larger in diameter than the inner vessel as will cause their sides to fit closely in contact as the former is pushed down over the latter, thus forming chaniber D previously supplied (or partly filled) with beeswax or other soft cement, when the outer covering, 0, is placed on and gradually pushed down over the containing-vessel (resting upon a warm surface if the artlcles are not previously warmed) until it comes in contact with the bottom F, and its lower edge or end being thus immersed in the melted wax contained in the chamber D, the containingvessel is consequently hermetically sealed.

The comparative advantages peculiar to a preserving apparatus of this construction are several and obvious. First, it being double at its sides, it is necessarily stronger; second, the cementing-chamber being at the bottom, the cement is more conveniently and quickly softened, as it is only necessary to let the can rest a minute or two upon a warm surface to adapt it either for closing or opening, which is especially advantageous for domestic use, as avoiding the necessity of heating the whole apparatus; third, a softer and entirely inoffensive cement (as beeswax) best answers the purpose of sealing, and also (from the friction consequent upon the close contact of the surfaces of the outer and inner cylinders of the apparatus) of more securely preventing its being accidentally opened from rough portage; fourth, the sealing-chamber being at the bot tom of the can, it is more suitable for the purpose as being out of the way in filling in or using from the can, and thus leaving the mouth of the containing-vessel larger, and also at all times entirely free fronrcontact with the cement, which is a great advantage over the selfsealing cans which are cemented at the mouth, as the flavor of the pitch used as the cement is thus apt to become imparted to the contained preserve; and, fifth, with all these advantages my improved preserving apparatus can be made quite as cheaply as the best in the market.

, I do not claim, broadly, a self-sealing can with a groove prepared with cement; nor do I claim a grooved stopper and seat, nor a screwcap and mouth made air-tight, whether cement be used or not; but

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Sealing of a double-sided can or jar at the outside at or near the bottom, in the manner and for the purpose as set forth.

\Vitnesses: vSTIMMEL LUTZ.

BEN. Momson, JNo. B. KENNEY. 

